Pre-Mindanao Week of Peace Activities

For the past two years, advocacy and information campaign about Mindanao and local history has been initiated by the Tri-Youth Volunteers (youth arm of the Kapayaapn Kapatid Council and SOCSARGEN Peace Network). While volunteering for many peacebuilding interventions in the SOCSARGEN area, the volunteers is also aware of the importance of continuing peace education and Mindanao History Information Campaign.

As a support to the annual Mindanao Week of Peace Celebration and mainstreaming of peace education by the Department of Education, the Tri-Youth Volunteers of the network would like to continue this effort, thus this proposal dubbed as 2^nd Mindanao History and Culture of Peace Information Caravan for the Youth (MH-COP-ICY) Project.

This effort started in 2007 when the then Technical Working Youth Arm of KKC started a poster-making contest for secondary schools in General Santos City. With a twist of including input on Mindanao History before the competition, that effort gained positive response from the participating schools. In addition, the posters were used as backgrounds of the 2008 official calendar/ promo-collateral of the GoP-UN ACT for Peace Programme. In 2008, with the aim of increasing advocacy and awareness about MIndanaao History, the Tri-Youth Volunteers with the support of other stakeholders started the 1^st MH-COP-ICY that includes poster-making, essay-writing, and the highlight was the first ever quiz bee devoted to Mindanao History and concepts of peacebuilding. The project was supported by more 20 participating schools in General Santos City and Sarangani Province.

Cognizant to the goal of providing venue for peace information and dialogue, the Tri-Youth Volunteers/ Movement (the youth arm of the Kapayapaan Kapatid Council), would continue the massive information campaign to the youth on the culture of peace and the local history. The 2008 experience showed that there is now appreciation of local schools who participated about the relevance and importance of local history and Mindanao History yet there is still a need to increase awareness and to support the DepEds’s mandate on mainstreaming peace education at the schools. Only Mindanao State University has a tertiary course/ subject in Mindanao History (History 3). The Tri-Youth Movement would like to continue this campaign through a project dubbed as Mindanao History and Culture of Peace Information Caravan for the Youth (MH-COP-ICY).

This year activities is participated by 20 Secondary schools in SOCSARGEN having 138 participants, 29 guests and 40 youth volunteers. The project was headed by Mr. Ernesto Casiple Jr.

The Quiz Bee on Air (Facilitated by Mr. Ernesto Casiple)

a. Utok K’linaw: 2nd Mindanao Week of Peace SOCSARGEN Mindanao History and Culture of Peace Quiz: This activity will create an explicit venue for the secondary students to learn their local Mindanao History and the concept of the Culture of Peace. It will be a start-calling activity for the schools to include in their teachings the importance of emphasizing Mindanao History and inculcating the value of the culture of peace and other related concepts in peace-building. It will also highlight some local terminologies (languages and dialects used among the tribes of Sarangani, General Santos City, and South Cotabato).

1st - Justin Dwight Invidiado, Daniel Tulang, Adriano Solano (MSU-CETD)
2nd - Donna Alagao, Camella Arellano, Christine Pagaduan (MSU-CETD)
3rd - Earvin Maguiling, Yvonne Harley Templonueva, Van Harley Domingo
(Polacion Polomolok, National High School)



Essay Writing ( Facilitated by Reginns Jumilla, judged by Mr. Ernesto Casiple & Mrs. Ched Caldea)

Sulat Kalinaw: 2nd Mindanao Week of Peace SARGEN Essay-writing Contest for the Youth: This activity aims to gather the thoughts of the youth regarding the recent conflict in Mindanao with emphasis to Sarangani Province.

This essay-writing contest is supposed to create a twist among common essay writing contest. The participants of this contest will write not only write about their role as a youth in peacebuilding but their concrete/ specific plans that will contribute to lasting peace in Mindanao.

Knowledge of Mindanao History and local peacebuilding activities are a plus to participants.

Important Note: While the project components will evolve on the 2009 MWOP theme that is “Think Mindanao, Feel Mindanao and Bring Peace to Mindanao,” it is always important to devise a theme for the project that is relevant and attainable by the participating youth.

Essay Writing for Peace (Activity Proposal) Results:

1st - Larry Illiyeh Souribio (Tupi National High School) "Technology Peace Discussion Using Facebook & Friendster"

2nd - Marinell R. Rosales (Ireneo L. Santiago HS) "Having Youth as Peace Builder"

3rd - Jessica Danielle Datoon (NNDU-IBED Espina Campus) "Sumulat Ka at Umawit Para sa Kabataan"

C. PAINTING (Facilitated by Alnezzar Ali )

Hulagway sa Kalilintad: 3^nd Mindanao Week of Peace SOCSARGEN Poster-making Contest for the Youth: This activity will allow the youth to express their ideas on peacebuilding in Mindanao through posters/paintings. It is a direct avenue for the youth to deliver their message of peace.


HULAGWAY SA KALILINTAD: A showcase of artistry and advocacy for Peace

by Kenneth Lacson

Student artists of different schools in SOCSARGEN area gathered together to participate in one of the pre-Mindanao Week of Peace Activities which is the ART FOR PEACE last November 7, 2009 at DXCP compound, General Santos City.

“We are not here for competition”… Thirty two (32) student participants having with them pencils, oil pastels and some brought paintbrushes assembled at the DXCP compound having in their mind that the competition will be tough for them. “Kulbaan ko kay murag mga maayo ang mga participants”, one of the student artists said. But before anything else gets fired up because of the competition in their mind, the facilitators announced that this is not a competition. You can see in their faces the sign of surprise and happiness maybe because they are thinking of what to draw or maybe they are puzzled out why they were there. “Bakit kayo nagdala ng mga gamit?”, Kuya Ernesto Casiple asked the participants during the opening program because they were not asked to bring any drawing or painting materials. The facilitators made sure of the fairness and equality in terms of the materials so as to promote peace among the participants.

“All geared up”… After the opening program, the participants were instructed to go to their designated area which is the St. Gemma Orphanage and in that place, the volunteers are constantly waiting and preparing the materials needed for the event. One canvas, one pencil, one fine paintbrush, and a tablespoon of colors (primary colors, black and white) were provided to the participants. Some were excited while some are nervous when they received their materials.

Before the participants were allowed to paint, Mr. Alnezzar Ali, one of the renowned artists in Mindanao, gave the participants some advice and ideas how to attack their subject. Mr. Ali showed the participants some of the works of the different artists in Mindanao. Mr. Ali emphasized the importance of art as a way of expressing and advocating peace.

“Imagination presented on a canvas”… after they were given the instructions to start their piece, the participants find they own place wherein they are suitable and they could get some inspiration. Others made their piece under the shade of the trees, some are in groups, some chose to be alone and some even chose to do their work on the top of a slide. Mentors were also busy taking care of their students. Some brought some food for them and some gave some advice. Most of the participants didn’t expect that they would use paint in doing their piece that’s why many had hard time finishing their work.

About 3 o’clock in the afternoon, the finished work of the participants started to file up. They were displayed at the main venue which is the DXCP compound and it was judged by the head of the painting event, Mr. Alnezzar Ali.

“The award goes to…”… The most awaited part of the participants is fast approaching- the awarding ceremony. You can see in the faces of the participants that the view of competition is almost eliminated. The participants were happy with their new found friends and newly acquired knowledge and skill from the said activity. Among the thirty-two participants, top 5 were chosen. Robert S. Doronila from NDDU-IBED Espina and Rae Joseph Arao from Norala National High School garnered the special awards. The 3^rd placer was Ronnie John Escucha from Norala National High School, 2^nd placer was Jonathan Tupas Della from Malandag National High School and the 1^st placer was Alvin L. Cristobal from Malandag National High School which presented an innovative style in painting.

“This activity is truly a good experience for all the participants,” one of the teachers of the participants said. Even some of the participants were not given the award, they were still proud about their work. This is just one of the little ways how we as Mindanaoans could spread peace and unity. Seeing the young participants do their best for the purpose of doing their little way in advocating for peace makes you feel that peace is as clear as the paintings’ of the young artists. Truly a HULAGWAY SA KALILINTAD!!!

R-L (First, Second, Third Placer)

Art for Peace Painting Results:

1st - Alvin L. Cristobal (Malandag National High School)

2nd - Jonathan Tupas Della (Malandag National High School)

3rd - Ronnie John Escucha (Norala National High School)

Special Awards:

a. Rae Joseph Arao (Norala National High School)

b. Robert S. Doronilla (NDDU-IBED Espina)

The schools who participated were:

South Cotabato: Tupi NHS, Landan NHS, Lake Sebu NHS, Pangyan NHS, Poblacion Polomolok NHS,

General Santos City: Shalom Crest Academy, Ireneo NHS, RMMC HS, GSCNSS of Arts and Trades, New Society NHS, NDDU-IBED Espina, Silway 8 NHS A & B, MSU CETD, Holy Trinity College

Sarangani Province: Malandag National High School, Kawas NHS, ND of Maasim,